2019 TBR Cleanup Challenge

[Wen]

I don’t know how to answer it now(hiding). Thank you for allowing me to put the series on my list. I picked it because I thought “One Hit Wonder” is based on how I feel(rolling rolling)?

[Wen]

Dj wrote: "Wen wrote: "Update:

7. Your initials are in the title — Year of Wonder: Classical Music for Every Day It is like a diary.
9. A book that intimidates you — [book: Robots and Empire..."

It actually has a piece for every day^^

[Dj]

Wen wrote: "Dj wrote: "Wen wrote: "Update:

7. Your initials are in the title — Year of Wonder: Classical Music for Every Day It is like a diary.
9. A book that intimidates you — [book: Robots..."

Ah. so it is the Ring Cycle? That is like one pice of music for every day of the year.
Or does it just seem like that?

[CBRetriever]

I, Robot is almost, if not more known than Foundation

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

No hang on, I've got it. In Foundation, the thing that sets the plot in motion is done all at once in the beginning and the rest of the book we're just marveling at it, slack jawed in wonder.

Wen, makes total sense to me!

[Wen]

Dj wrote: "Wen wrote: "Dj wrote: "Wen wrote: "Update:

7. Your initials are in the title — Year of Wonder: Classical Music for Every Day It is like a diary.
9. A book that intimidates you — [..."

Yes, it's one piece of music for every day of the year.

[Wen]

@CBRetriever I know, it sounds like Robot series is more popular in general.

@Allison *hug hug*

[Karin]

I'd like to choose these as I go, if that's okay. I may already have some here, but will print this list and go through them.

This year I am going to try to mainly read whatever I feel like and try to read more for fun and less for games--this is quite flexible, and so is they only sort of challenge I will do this year. There are no prizes, so it's noncompetitive, which is my other rule right now. I come from a family where if there is any sort of points or prize we tend to play to win, even if it's all in fun. This means I end up reading too many books I don't like much, which is not what I want right now.

1. Oldest book
2. Work of art
3. Novella or short story collection
4. Title is a question
5. Ugly cover (and please share it!)
6. Has inspired other art forms
7. Your initials are in the title
8. A book recommended to you
9. A book that intimidates you
10. Reminds you of a song
11. Buddy read (do not need to participate)
12. Book with a luck symbol
13. The 6th book
14. Last in a series
15. One Hit Wonder
16. Hidden Gem
17. Someplace you want to go
18. Get On the Bandwagon
19. Words in Title in Alphabetical Order
20. Graphic or illustrated novel

[CBRetriever]

I liked them both, but the later books in the Foundation series weren't quite as good (IMHO)

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Of course, Karin! No wrong way to play ^^

[Karin]

Allison wrote: "All right y'all, time to find books to read for 2019! As in previous years, we are supplying prompts, you supply the books that fit them! If you want to share with us why they were the ones you cho..."

How or when do we sign up on that link? It simply says it starts in 2019.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

They'll be eligible for sign ups Jan 1 through the official tracker-challenge.

[Anna]

You can sign up once it's 2019 in PST.

[Karin]

Thanks :)!

[Wen]

CBRetriever wrote: "I liked them both, but the later books in the Foundation series weren't quite as good (IMHO)"

Apparently it is not interesting as the Robot... Hopefully there will be a BR schedule^^

[Karin]

Wen wrote: "CBRetriever wrote: "I liked them both, but the later books in the Foundation series weren't quite as good (IMHO)"

Apparently it is not interesting as the Robot... Hopefully there will be a BR sche..."

I preferred Foundation to I Robot, fwiw.

[CBRetriever]

different strokes for different folks which is especially true in books, movies and restaurants (had some horrendous meals in a few friend's favorite restaurants)

[Dj]

CBRetriever wrote: "I, Robot is almost, if not more known than Foundation"

I would suspect that the movie had something to do with the shift.

[CBRetriever]

true, but as I'm a reader of mysteries as well as sci fi/fantasy, I preferred I, Robot way back in the 60s when I first read it

[Raysa]

First time participating! I just started following this group late last year so I was excited for the 2019 challenges to roll around.

We'll see how these go over the course of the year, but here's my list at the moment:

1. Oldest book - The Night Circus
I decided, rather than going with the oldest publishing date, that I would go with the first book on by TBR list.

2. Work of art - The Gutter Prayer
The reviews say this isn't like other SFF books out there, so I'm counting it for this category.

3. Novella or short story collection - Snow White Learns Witchcraft: Stories and Poems
The title grabs me.

4. Title is a question - Where Loyalties Lie
Where do the loyalties lie??

5. Ugly cover (and please share it!) - Jack of Thieves
I am just not at all a fan of this cover, but the book has gotten good reviews.

6. Has inspired other art forms - Day of the Arrow
If I can get my hands on a copy. Inspired the 1960s movie The Eye of the Devil.

7. Your initials are in the title - The Ruin of Kings
None of my TBR has my initials in the title, so this is as close as I could get.

8. A book recommended to you - The Kingdom of Copper
Friend recommended the series. Read the first book, can't wait for the next!

9. A book that intimidates you - Dragonfly in Amber
Started, need to finish. The remaining size of the series intimidates me more than the book does, mainly because I wonder if my interest will hold all the way through.

10. Reminds you of a song - UPDATE 1/12/19: The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel: A Story of Sleepy Hollow
Reminds me of the Headless Horseman song in the Disney animated version of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

11. Buddy read - The Light Between Worlds
Friend of mine is also reading this.

12. Book with a luck symbol - The Raven Boys
Ravens are one of my good luck symbols.

13. The 6th book - The Winds of Winter
Is there any hope???
In case there isn't...Crooked Kingdom
6th book on my TBR list.

14. Last in a series - The Winter of the Witch
Last of the trilogy! Very excited to read this.

15. One Hit Wonder - Never Die
I hear good things.

16. Hidden Gem - The Hanged Man
The first book in this series was indeed a hidden gem, so I have high hopes for the second.

17. Someplace you want to go - City of Miracles
You find me a literal city of miracles, and I'm there.

18. Get On the Bandwagon - Gardens of the Moon
Heard a lot about Malazan on GR but haven't picked these up yet.

19. Words in title in alphabetical order - Kings of Paradise
I sang my ABCs just to make sure. ;)

20. Graphic or illustrated novel - The Fall of Gondolin
Started but haven't finished yet. Love the illustrations in the book so far!

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Lol Raysa! I sang along, too! Those pesky "ofs". We're reading Gardens in January as a br, I'd love if you could swing by!

[Petar]

Hi all,

So, I've just joined the group and I thought this would be the best way dive in; the TBR challenge. I seriously doubt that I'll get to all of these during the year, but here goes.

1. Oldest book – Dune – Frank Herbert.
The first (i.e. oldest) Nebula Award Winner.

2. Work of art – Lords of Destruction – James Silke.
This series was inspired by Frank Frazetta’s ‘Death Dealer’ artwork. I’ve only just managed to track down this second book in the series, though I will re-read book 1 before I get into book 2.

3. Novella or short story collection – The Vital Abyss – James SA Corey.
A novella from the Expanse universe.

4. Title is a question – Who Fears Death – Nnedi Okorafor.
OK, some other members saved my butt here. I had nothing on my TBR list framed as a question but saw some other people had this one listed. It looks pretty intriguing and I've had Okorafor's Binti on my TBR list for a while.

5. Ugly cover (and please share it!) – Sundiver – David Brin.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9....
I reckon that’s pretty ugly.

6. Has inspired other art forms – Titus Groan – Mervyn Peake.
Apart from the TV adaptation, the Cure song, The Drowning Man, was inspired by Gormenghast.

7. Your initials are in the title – Perdido Street Station – China Mieville.
I couldn’t find anything with words beginning with P and D, but the dominant sounding letters in the word 'Perdido' are P and D, so I’ve gone with that.

8. A book recommended to you - Eisenhorn - Dan Abnett.
It was suggested to me that this might be a good place to start with the Warhammer 40k series.

9. A book that intimidates you – All Systems Red – Martha Wells.
How can you not be intimidated by something called a Murderbot?

10. Reminds you of a song – Babel 17/ Empire Star – Samuel R. Delany.
Empire Star reminds me of the Deep Purple song Highway Star. Also, Mumford & Sons released an album called Babel, and there was a Norwegian band in the 90s/00s called Babel Fish.

11. Buddy read (do not need to participate). And I probably won't.

12. Book with a luck symbol – I Am Number 4 – Pittacus Lore.
The number 4 is considered bad luck in some Asian cultures.

13. The 6th book – Babylon’s Ashes – James S.A. Corey.
A happy coincidence. I am up to the sixth book in the Expanse series.

14. Last in a series.
Hmmm. I can’t think of any series I’m up to the last book in. I might have to re-visit this one during the year.

15. One Hit Wonder – The Picture of Dorian Gray – Oscar Wilde.
Wilde was a celebrated playwright and poet, but Dorian Gray was his only novel.

16. Hidden Gem - The Devil's Diadem - Sara Douglass.
The search for the Devil's favourite diadem (which could conceivably be a gem?).

17. Someplace you want to go - Arabella of Mars - David D Levine.
Who doesn't want to go to Mars?

18. Get On the Bandwagon – Ready Player One – Ernest Cline.
Yes, I know that this bandwagon left some time ago, but I’m just catching up to it now.

19. Words in title in alphabetical order - Altered Carbon - Richard K Morgan.
Loved the TV show.

20. Graphic or illustrated novel - Kick-Ass - Mark Millar.
I don't read a lot of graphic novels. This is the only one on my TBR list ATM.

So that's that.

Happy reading all. Here's to a great 2019.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

So many inventive interpretations! Good luck! If you end up looking for a 20th pick, there's a list of dozens if books (hundreds if you include the group bookshelf) that would readily apply even if it's in your own time.

[Soo]

Petar, Murderbot will win you over and you'll become a part of the <3 Murderbot Club. Isn't it nice that the book you listed for intimidation is short? =)

[Petar]

Allison wrote: "So many inventive interpretations! Good luck! If you end up looking for a 20th pick, there's a list of dozens if books (hundreds if you include the group bookshelf) that would readily apply even if..."

Thanks Allison. I've had a look at the group bookshelf. So much interesting stuff. I'm thinking V.E. Schwab's A Conjuring of Light might be the one I pick for #14. I've not read the second book in the series yet but, again, they've been on my TBR list for a while. And A Darker Shade of Magic was a great read.

[Petar]

Soo wrote: "Petar, Murderbot will win you over and you'll become a part of the <3 Murderbot Club. Isn't it nice that the book you listed for intimidation is short? =)"

LOL. Thanks Soo. It looks like a cool series. And no, it doesn't hurt that it's so short ;-)

[Kristen]

Don't have all of them selected yet, but this is my starting point.

1. Oldest book Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed (I am choosing to interpret this one, probably a little outside the intentions of the challenge, as a book that has been on my TBR the longest. Sorry. It's just got to go.)
2. Work of art
3. Novella or short story collection Probably The Best Short Stories of O. Henry
4. Title is a question Where Am I Now?
5. Ugly cover (and please share it!) I always go to The Calcutta Chromosome: A Novel of Fevers, Delirium & Discovery but after 3 years of putting it on reading lists only to read something else instead, I'm losing faith that I'll ever actually read this.
6. Has inspired other art forms Dumplin'
7. Your initials are in the title The Great Pearl Heist: London's Greatest Thief and Scotland Yard's Hunt for the World's Most Valuable Necklace
8. A book recommended to you Ubik
9. A book that intimidates you Beloved
10. Reminds you of a song Cat Who Walked a Thousand Miles (The cat came back the very next day, lol)
11. Buddy read (do not need to participate)
12. Book with a luck symbol The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom (picture of an elephant on the cover) or Life of Pi (fish on the cover)
13. The 6th book The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements
14. Last in a series The Stone Sky
15. One Hit Wonder A Clockwork Orange
16. Hidden Gem
17. Someplace you want to go Crocodile on the Sandbank (Egypt. Egypt is the answer.)
18. Get On the Bandwagon The Fault in Our Stars uuugggghhhhh
19. Words in Title in Alphabetical Order Graduates in Wonderland: The International Misadventures of Two (Almost) Adults
20. Graphic or illustrated novel Lone Wolf and Cub, Vol. 1: The Assassin's Road

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Great start! I hope you can power through some of the things you've been hanging on to!

[Dj]

CBRetriever wrote: "true, but as I'm a reader of mysteries as well as sci fi/fantasy, I preferred I, Robot way back in the 60s when I first read it"

In my memory (it has been some time since I have read either of them), I believe that I liked iRobot better, but that the Foundation series was more Sci-Fi. More thought provoking. Although after the first trilogy they lost steam.

[Wen]

Update:

8. A book recommended to you — The Goblin Emperor & re-read "The Broken Earth Series": I was thinking to read the trilogy again when I am fifty or something(way too long!). Then I just found out that the library has the whole set in Chinese edition. Well, I will read it again...

[Meghan]

Ok, ready to take on this challenge for the third time! I didn't quite make my 2018 challenge (read 15 of 20 possibilities, though I never designated 2 of the categories). I'm going to try to do all 20 in 2019 (I'll fill these in soon, but not tonight!):

1. Oldest book
2. Work of art
3. Novella or short story collection
4. Title is a question
5. Ugly cover (and please share it!)
6. Has inspired other art forms
7. Your initials are in the title
8. A book recommended to you
9. A book that intimidates you
10. Reminds you of a song
11. Buddy read (do not need to participate)
12. Book with a luck symbol
13. The 6th book
14. Last in a series
15. One Hit Wonder
16. Hidden Gem
17. Someplace you want to go
18. Get On the Bandwagon
19. Words in Title in Alphabetical Order
20. Graphic or illustrated novel

[Marie]

I don't know if I can finish this since I am already on two other challenges. Here are my choices:

1. Skinwalker (Jane Yellowrock, #1), Hunter, Faith
oldest audiobook I held that I haven't read
2. The Picture of Dorian Gray, Wilde, Oscar
3. Call of Cthulhu and Other Stories, Lovecraft, H.P.
4. Where the Hell is Tesla?, Dircks, Rob
5. This Book Is Full of Spiders (John Dies at the End, #2), Wong, David

Orange and spiders. Ugh.
6. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Baum, L. Frank
I think this was made into a movie?
7. Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue: The Untold Story of English, McWhorter, John H.
My initials are MAG
8. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter, #5), Rowling, J.K.
9. The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, #1), Tolkien, J.R.R.
Tolkien might be heavy
10. and 11. Kings of the Wyld (The Band, #1), Eames, Nicholas
I'm an Adam and the Ants fan
12. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter, #6), Rowling, J.K.
13. The American West: History, Myth, and Legacy, Allitt, Patrick N.
The cover has a horseshoe
14.The Hero of Ages (Mistborn, #3), Sanderson, Brandon

[Anna]

Marie wrote: "I don't know if I can finish this since I am already on two other challenges."

You have 365 days left to try! :D

[Ninna]

Love this challenge! This is my third year participating in it and I'm now a reading challenge addict! Gonna get a lot of old TBR books done on this challenge as well as a few new ones. Yay!

Happy New Year All!
FINISHED - 8/2/19 - 20/20

√1. Oldest book - Cart and Cwidder
√2. Work of art - Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption
√3. Novella or short story collection -The Spacetime Pool
√4. Title is a question - What If It's Us
√5. Ugly cover (and please share it!) - Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers
√6. Has inspired other art forms - Death Note, Vol. 1: Boredom
√7. Your initials are in the title - N or M?
√8. A book recommended to you - The Hot Zone: The Terrifying True Story of the Origins of the Ebola Virus
√9. A book that intimidates you - Foundation
√10. Reminds you of a song - The Princess Bride
√11. Buddy read (do not need to participate) - Witchmark
√12. Book with a luck symbol - Dragon Pearl
√13. The 6th book - Ella Enchanted
√14. Last in a series - Ship of Destiny
√15. One Hit Wonder - Where the Crawdads Sing
√16. Hidden Gem - Dying of Whiteness: How the Politics of Racial Resentment Is Killing America's Heartland
√17. Someplace you want to go - Shortest Way Home: One Mayor's Challenge and a Model for America's Future
√18. Get On the Bandwagon - Dragonflight
√19. Words in Title in Alphabetical Order - Nine Perfect Strangers
√20. Graphic or illustrated novel - V for Vendetta

[Saar The Book owl]

I made a mistake and put 10 books as my goal. How can I change that?

[Anna]

Saar The Book owl wrote: "I made a mistake and put 10 books as my goal. How can I change that?"

Click on ’Update my entry’.

[Ellen]

I'm in!
1. Oldest book The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line
going with book on tbr the longest
2. Work of art
3. Novella or short story collection Crazy Like a Fox
4. Title is a question Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs
explanation below
5. Ugly cover (and please share it!)
6. Has inspired other art forms The Island of Dr. Moreau
movies
7. Your initials are in the title War for the Oaks
8. A book recommended to you Mennonite in a Little Black Dress: A Memoir of Going Home
9. A book that intimidates you 1Q84
10. Reminds you of a song Cat's Cradle
makes me start humming Harry Chapin
11. Buddy read (do not need to participate)
12. Book with a luck symbol The Neverending Story
dragon
13. The 6th book
14. Last in a series The Stone Sky
15. One Hit Wonder
16. Hidden Gem
17. Someplace you want to go Outlander Scotland 1/04/19
18. Get On the Bandwagon Uprooted
19. Words in Title in Alphabetical Order
20. Graphic or illustrated novel Watchmen

For # 4 I don't have a book that asks a question so I added a "How did this book get on my TBR?"(what was I thinking) book instead of adding another book and defeating the purpose of the cleanup.

[Ellen]

For #3. Novella or short story collection I'm going with one of the short novels on my TBR.
Found this article while trying to distinguish between a novel and novella
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2...

[Maggie]

I am going to do this in order, so I am not going to get too far ahead of myself...


1. Oldest book (on my tbr I took this to mean) Jurgen
2. Work of art Blahnik by Boman: Shoes, Photographs, Conversation because shoes are definitely art in my world...
3. Novella or short story collectionThe Imago Sequence and Other Stories
4. Title is a question Who Fears Death
5. Ugly cover (and please share it!) Pawn of Prophecy
6. Has inspired other art forms
7. Your initials are in the title Moonlight and Vines
8. A book recommended to you
9. A book that intimidates you The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O.
10. Reminds you of a song
11. Buddy read (do not need to participate) Deadhouse Gates
12. Book with a luck symbol
13. The 6th book A Maze of Death
14. Last in a series
15. One Hit WonderThe Secret History of Elizabeth Tudor, Vampire Slayer
16. Hidden Gem
17. Someplace you want to go
18. Get On the Bandwagon The Gospel of Loki
19. Words in Title in Alphabetical Order
20. Graphic or illustrated novel Dream Country

[Lost Planet Airman]

I just noticed that I had not yet declared myself "in" for the 2019 TBR Challenge. So, here's my additional rules: My books have to already be on my TBR somehow (but I have an "undocumented" list of SF&F award winners and selected nominees), and in the SF or Fantasy or Superhero genres. That's it!

So, I'm in.

6. Has inspired other art forms: Watership Down, movie and now a TV series

[Manna]

I will aim for 10 books.

10/10

1. Oldest book - The Count of Monte Cristo - Currently reading
2. Work of art - Harry Potter och de vises sten - The illustrated edition ✔️
3. Novella or short story collection - All Systems Red
4. Title is a question - unfortunately there is none on my TBR
5. Ugly cover (and please share it!)
6. Has inspired other art forms - Metro 2033 : den sista tillflykten - Video games
7. Your initials are in the title - Flickan med sju namn - My initials are AM ✔️
8. A book recommended to you - Boktjuven ✔️
9. A book that intimidates you - Låt den rätte komma in ✔️
10. Reminds you of a song - [bookcover:Ronja rövardotterRonja rövardotter|469066] - I always think of this song. ✔️
11. Buddy read (do not need to participate) - Farornas väg - Sagan om Drakens återkomst, del 1 - Currently reading
12. Book with a luck symbol - Historiska Katter - cat ✔️
13. The 6th book - Mysteriet på Blå tåget - book number 6 of the Hercule Poirot Series.
14. Last in a series - Riket vid vägens slut ✔️
15. One Hit Wonder - Dödssynden - I know, I know... there is another book, but still...
16. Hidden Gem - The Blood of Whisperers
17. Someplace you want to go - Förrädarens guld - I want to visit a moving city ✔️
18. Get On the Bandwagon - Stad av skuggor - The Mortal Instruments series
19. Words in Title in Alphabetical Order - ABC-morden ✔️
20. Graphic or illustrated novel - Linda och Valentin: Samlade Äventyr 3 ✔️
Currently reading

Read

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Welcome all of you!! Good luck, may the inspiration be ever in your favor!

[Petar]

If anyone wants to 'buddy read' with me for number 11, I'm open to suggestions.

*Edit* - I've just found the buddy read recruitment thread, so I'll head over there.

[David]

Dj wrote: "David wrote: "Loved this challenge past 2 years, so definitely going to try again this year. These categories were tricky, so here it goes:

1. Oldest book
[book:The Worst Journey in the World|4850..."

Dj wrote: "David wrote: "Loved this challenge past 2 years, so definitely going to try again this year. These categories were tricky, so here it goes:

1. Oldest book
[book:The Worst Journey in the World|4850..."

I'm only intimidated by the Discworld books because having reviewed my TBR list every year for this challenge, I realized I'm falling further behind on books I want to read. And knowing me I'll probably try to read them all :)

[Laura]

After failing miserably last year I'd like to give it one more try this year if you'll have me.

And I will complete it this this time around!

I would also like to ask what Get On the Bandwagon means. What book do I have to set here?

[Sarah]

Laura I thought of “Get on the Bandwagon” as being a popular book that you haven’t read yet or maybe a book that’s been recommended to you before that you haven’t read yet or have been putting off.

[Laura]

Thank you Sarah. :)

[Anna]

Yes, that's exactly it. And of course we'll have you Laura! :)

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Super glad to have you, Laura!! Hope you get some great books off that unending TBR!

[Laura]

Thank you. :))
Is it ok if I try to finish even the 2018 challenge this year? I'm actually done with everything in that except my thirteenth book, which is not only a door stopper but the 4th in series and I didn't get to read it still.